NBC REPORTS STRONG UPFRONT SALES

NBC on Thursday completed its upfront sales for the fall season. Trade reports were at odds over the estimated receipts for its broadcast and cable networks, but even a lowball estimate that they were flat with last year would suggest a huge improvement, inasmuch as last year the company grossed more than $1 billion on its Olympics coverage alone. Each of the networks reportedly was able to up their rates during the upfronts by about 7-9 percent, the trade reports indicated.